article

Dropkick Murphys are a Celtic Punk band formed in the Irish Catholic working class neighborhoods of South Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They practiced in the basement of a friend's barbershop, blending punk rock, Oi!, Irish folk, rock, and hardcore into something they could call their own. Their influences include such outfits as Stiff Little Fingers, The Pogues, and The Clash, but most importantly, the Real McKenzies and the Swinging Utters. Their name was taken from a local rehab center. They typically close their concerts with "Skinhead on the MBTA," a parody of "The MTA Song." The band has made a name for themselves and built a following by their non stop touring all over the world and their famous St. Patricks Day weekend shows which are held every year in Boston.

Band history

Dropkick Murphys were formed in 1996 by Mike McColgan on vocals, Ken Casey on bass guitar, Rick Barton on guitars. After a series of drummers, the band settled on Matt Kelly in 1997. The band put out a series of EPs and were signed by Hellcat Records. In 1998, they released their first full length album, Do or Die. Soon after the album's release, McColgan left the band, citing his inability to commit to touring. He was replaced by Al Barr, formerly of The Bruisers. In 1999, they released their follow-up album, The Gang's All Here. Following the release, Lars Frederiksen, who had produced Dropkick's first two albums, exited to pursue other interests, and Barton also left the band, after getting married. He personally named James Lynch, a guitarist with local band, The Ducky Boys as his successor. The band also recruited a second guitarist, Marc Orrell, who was also a self-taught accordionist and pianist. The band also employed a full-time piper, Robbie "Spicy McHaggis" Mederios and Ryan Foltz on mandolin and tin whistle.

In 2001, Dropkick released the album Sing Loud, Sing Proud!. The album showcased their developing sound, and included collaborations with former Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. Their next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. Prior to the album's release, McHaggis left the band to get married. James "Scruffy" Wallace filled in bagpipe duties, and Tim Brennan was employed as a full-time accordionist, not before Foltz left after the tour, allowing Brennan to assume tin whistle, acoustic guitar and mandolin duties. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the song "Fields of Athenry," which made its debut on the compilation album Atticus: Dragging the Lake Vol. 2. In late 2003 Ken and Al joined former "Dropkick Murphys" singer Mike McColgan on the song "Stand Up" which was featured on the debut album by Mike's new band, the Street Dogs, called Savin Hill. Ken was set to produce the album but was unable to due to his busy schedule with the Murphys. Around the same time the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem, Tessie. Their version became the official song of the Boston Red Sox amazing 2004 World Series run and the band was able to share in the experience of the Red Sox winning the World Series championship.

In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released "Singles Collection Volume 2", featuring covers, b-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums. "Tessie" was used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch which starred Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. The band was even invited to the premiere of the movie which was held at Fenway Park where the video was also shot. Their fifth (and latest) studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway", "The Warrior's Code" as well as the bonus track, "Tessie". After the tour of The Warrior's Code, Dropkick Murphys have confirmed that they are taking a break from touring. There is rumored a sixth studio album yet to be recorded, but the band confirmed that it may not happen until likely towards the end of 2006 or beginning of 2007.

Criticism

Dropkick Murphys, Rancid and other "street punk" bands have been subject to criticism from some sections of the punk scene for their avowedly "working class" allegiance and alleged glorification of violence. The song Tightrope, recorded by Chicago pop-punk band Screeching Weasel and released on the 1999 b-side compilation, Thank You Very Little, appeared to be directed specifically at the Dropkick Murphys and Rancid. Ben Weasel writes in the liner notes that the song is a "sarcastic, accusatory song aimed at the resurgence of tough-guy, so-called working class or street punk bands". The band has not issued any public response to the song. Rancid, however, did note in the liner notes to their 2003 album, Indestructible, that they have been referred to as a "pack of badgers", one of the lyrics in "Tightrope." On the new album, the song "Wicked Sensitive Crew" mocks the image of the Dropkick Murphys as having the tough-guy, mob mentality, that of which Ben Weasel accuses them. Whether it is a serious effort to portray the band as such is debatable. Along with Weasel, Joe King, frontman for pop-punk band The Queers has also directed criticism at the Dropkicks and their alleged glorification of violence. King wrote that the punk scene in general "(or what's left of it) is full of assholes that just wanna fight." King also claims that a member of Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb told him that the Dropkicks allegedly "entertained" the guitarist from the notorious far right wing Oi! band, Skrewdriver after the two finished a gig together. However, Frenzal Rhomb, generally, have always spoken very favourably of the Dropkicks in interviews and the Dropkicks are one of the many bands that Frenzal Rhomb have thanked in the liner notes of their albums...

Response to Criticism

In response to criticism that the band is racist, many fans of the band point out, that they have performed shows to benefit the Anti-Racist Action group, and that they have participated in the Unity Festival to promote racial harmony, and have done many shows in Asia. Ken Casey himself has addressed the issue, saying that anyone who has listened to the music knows the band aren't racist - this is something that a number of bands, who have been branded as racist, have noted. Casey also elaborated on the point, by pointing out that not all skinheads are racist, and that the image of every skinhead being racist is a "misinterpretation." The full interview can be found here*. It should also be noted, though, that the criticism from Weasel does not ascribe any racism to members of the band, but rather alleges that their music tends to glorify violence and a mob mentality.

Discography

Studio Albums

Live and Compilation Albums

EPs

Singles

Splits

Compilations

DVDs

Billboard (US) Chart Positions

Full Albums

Year Title Chart Positions
1997 Do or Die —
1999 The Gang's All Here # 184 US
2001 Sing Loud Sing Proud # 144 US
2002 Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston, MA # 156 US
2003 Blackout #   83 US
2005 The Warrior's Code #   48 US

See also

External links

American musical groups | Punk rock groups | Later punk groups | Massachusetts musical groups | Hellcat Records groups | Irish-American culture | Musical activists | Celtic fusion groups

Dropkick Murpheys | Dropkick Murphys | Dropkick Murphys | Dropkick Murphys | Dropkick Murphys | Dropkick Murphy's | Dropkick Murphys | Dropkick Murphys

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Dropkick Murphys".

Home Page • arts • business • computers • games • health • hospitals • home • kids & teens • news • physicians • recreation• reference • regional • science • shopping • society • sports • world